Fantasy football running back rankings

Carolina Panthers star Christian McCaffrey is one of the most dynamic running backs in the NFL. McCaffrey set the NFL record for receptions by a running back last season with 107 catches in 16 starts in 2018. File Photo by Derik Hamilton/UPI | License Photo

McCaffrey moves ahead of my previous top running back -- 2018 NFL rushing champion Ezekiel Elliott -- as the Dallas Cowboys star has yet to join the team while waiting for a new contract.

Advertisement

McCaffrey is poised to have another huge season, especially in point-per-reception fantasy football formats. The Panthers star set the record for most catches by a running back last season, hauling in 107 receptions for 867 yards and six scores in 16 starts. He also had 1,098 yards and seven scores on the ground.

Christian McCaffrey absolutely exploded in 2018. This year McCaffrey might not reach the 107-catch mark, but he should still provide elite fantasy football production due to his dynamic skill set. I have McCaffrey ranked as an elite RB1 in standard leagues, but he is an even more elite option in point per reception (PPR) formats.

Advertisement

Saquon Barkley will be the first player off of the board in many fantasy football drafts, and I see him on the same level as Ezekiel Elliott and Melvin Gordon. Barkley exploded for a league-best 2,028 yards from scrimmage and 15 touchdowns in 16 starts during his rookie campaign in 2018. While I do expect Barkley to get a huge workload, I am also concerned about the Giants' lack of offensive firepower surrounding the young running back. I also expect the Giants to be trailing in many of their games this year, limiting Barkley's carries. Still, he deserves to be considered as a top pick in your fantasy football draft based on talent alone.

Le'Veon Bell has a new team after sitting out for a full season. But the New York Jets running back is in uncharted territory as football fans have no idea what he will look like after taking his 2018 hiatus from the game. The last time Bell was on the field, he posted the second All-Pro campaign of his career, piling up 1,946 yards and 11 scores in 15 starts for the Pittsburgh Steelers. I can see Bell slipping in fantasy football drafts, but I believe he still has RB1 talent. I also think he will eventually garner a huge workload in the Jets backfield. His skillset is perfect for a young quarterback like the Jets' Sam Darnold. This could be a perfect storm in fantasy football if Bell is anything close to the player he was in 2017.

Advertisement

Todd Gurley was hampered by his arthritic knee last season, but still managed to be named an All-Pro for the second consecutive season. While it is important to monitor his health before you fantasy football draft, I think downgrading him too much at this point is a huge mistake. Gurley remains super talented and is the focal point of one of the best offenses in football. I expect the Los Angeles Rams to use Gurley more efficiently in 2019. His numbers should still be elite, making Gurley a top-level RB1 for the 2019 season. Gurley also has a somewhat favorable schedule in 2019, when it comes to fantasy football. The Rams have four matchups this season against defenses that ranked inside the top five for allowing the most fantasy points to opposing running backs in 2018.

Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon is one of my favorite options at his position this season. Mixon finished No. 4 in rushing yards last season while piling up 237 carries in 14 games. The Bengals brought in an offensive-minded head coach this off-season in Zac Taylor and should lean on Mixon even more in 2019. I have him ranked as my No. 8 option in my fantasy football running back rankings. Mixon has just two matchups in 2019 against teams that ranked inside the top five for fewest fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs in 2018. I'm expecting him to surpass 1,300 rushing yards and 10 scores if he stays healthy for 16 games.

Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon (28) is poised for a huge 2019 campaign after averaging 4.9 yards per carry in 2018. File Photo by John Sommers II/UPI

Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones missed the first two weeks of last season due to a suspension. He still managed to score nine touchdowns in his 12 appearances. Jones is a high-end RB2 for me this season, unless you choose to draft wide receivers early. In that case, he could be a solid matchup-based RB1. I expect the Packers to incorporate Jones heavily in the offense from the get-go. Green Bay also has just two matchups in 2019 against defenses that ranked inside the top five for fewest points allowed to opposing running backs. Jones might not be an exciting pick, but he does appear to have a stranglehold on the starting job in Green Bay.

Seattle Seahawks running back Chris Carson won a lot of leagues for fantasy football team owners last season. Carson averaged 4.7 yards per carry and piled up 1,151 yards and nine scores on 247 totes in 14 starts for the Seahawks. He also provided RB1 value down the stretch, rushing for at least 90 yards and a touchdown in his last four games. Carson scored seven of his nine touchdowns in his final seven games last season. While I do expect some sort of backfield split between Carson and Rashaad Penny in 2019, I still rank Carson as an RB2 entering this fantasy football campaign. You should see another 1,000 yard season from Carson in 2019, with an outside shot of double digit touchdowns.

The Philadelphia Eagles added some serious weapons to their offensive arsenal this off-season, trading for Jordan Howard, drafting Miles Sanders and signing DeSean Jackson, among other moves. Sanders and Howard are poised to battle for the starting job in training camp, but I give the early edge to Howard, who has more experience and has been on the field more this off-season as Sanders has dealt with a hamstring issue. Being the Eagles' leader in carries should provide a lot of value in 2019. I expect Carson Wentz to have a stellar season as he attempts to stay healthy for 16 games. Jackson should improve the deep passing game and Howard should have plenty of room to make plays underneath. Howard is a solid matchup-based RB2 target in fantasy football drafts.